Author

Jennifer covers the nations capital as a senior reporter for States Newsroom. Her coverage areas include congressional policy, politics and legal challenges with a focus on health care, unemployment, housing and aid to families.
勛圖tv is part of , the nations largest state-focused nonprofit news organization.
Judge temporarily blocks Trump administration freeze on broad swath of federal payments
By: Jennifer Shutt - January 28, 2025
WASHINGTON A federal district judge ruled Tuesday the Trump administration must wait until at least next week before it can move forward with pausing federal spending on trillions in grants and loans, though she emphasized the short-term administrative stay might not continue after a Feb. 3 hearing. District Judge Loren L. AliKhans decision temporarily […]
Trump pick for USDA secretary says she has ‘a lot to learn’ about bird flu
By: Jennifer Shutt - January 24, 2025
WASHINGTON President Donald Trumps pick to lead the U.S. Department of Agriculture said during her confirmation hearing Thursday that she has a lot to learn about highly pathogenic avian influenza or bird flu, the virus thats wreaking havoc on the countrys poultry industry and dairy farms. The outbreak has affected more than 136 million […]
First abortion-related bill pushed in GOP-led Congress blocked by Senate Democrats
By: Jennifer Shutt - January 22, 2025
WASHINGTON U.S. Senate Democrats blocked legislation Wednesday that would have established penalties for health care professionals who dont provide medical care for infants born following an attempted abortion, arguing the bill would have kept parents from making decisions about care for newborns delivered early following a fatal fetal diagnosis. Republicans said the issue should […]
Donald Trump is sworn in as president of the United States
By: Jennifer Shutt and Shauneen Miranda - January 20, 2025
WASHINGTON Donald Trump took the presidential oath of office for the second time Monday during an inauguration ceremony inside the U.S. Capitol rotunda. The swearing-in marked the culmination of a four-year journey for Trump, whom many Republicans distanced themselves from following the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol, but nonetheless supported during his third […]
Biden declares Equal Rights Amendment is the law of the land, contradicting archivist
By: Jennifer Shutt - January 17, 2025
WASHINGTON President Joe Biden released a statement Friday saying he believes the Equal Rights Amendment should be added as the 28th Amendment to the Constitution, despite a statement from the archivist of the United States that it cannot. Bidens three-paragraph announcement did not explain why he waited until the last few days of his […]
Trump to sign executive order Monday delaying TikTok ban
By: Ashley Murray and Jennifer Shutt - January 17, 2025
WASHINGTON President-elect Donald Trump said Sunday he will sign an executive order as soon as he takes office that would delay a law that banned the popular social media app TikTok unless its parent company sells it. Im asking companies not to let TikTok stay dark! Trump said on his TruthSocial account. I […]
Trump nominee for budget chief says president can withhold funding approved by Congress
By: Jennifer Shutt - January 15, 2025
WASHINGTON President-elect Donald Trumps pick to run the Office of Management and Budget appeared on a glide path to confirmation following a Wednesday hearing, despite Democrats raising concerns over his policy beliefs and actions in the exact same job during the first administration. Russ Vought, who ran a conservative think tank for the last […]
U.S. House speaker pitches conditions on disaster aid, upending long-standing practice
By: Jennifer Shutt - January 14, 2025
WASHINGTON U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson said Tuesday that Congress will likely provide billions in disaster aid to help California recover from devastating wildfires, but indicated he might set a new precedent by placing conditions on that emergency funding based on policy and political differences with the Democratic-led state and the city of Los […]
Trump huddles with U.S. Senate GOP but no agreement yet on big tax, immigration overhaul
By: Jennifer Shutt and Ariana Figueroa - January 8, 2025
WASHINGTON U.S. Senate Republicans and President-elect Donald Trump met behind closed doors Wednesday evening to plot how to enact sweeping changes to immigration, energy and tax policy, though they didnt appear to make significant progress. Republicans want to use the complicated budget reconciliation process to approve legislation without relying on Democrats for votes in […]
Biden signs bill expanding Social Security benefits for retired teachers, public employees
By: Jennifer Shutt - January 6, 2025
WASHINGTON President Joe Biden has expanded Social Security benefits for more than 2 million Americans by signing broadly bipartisan legislation that Congress approved late last year. The ceremony on Sunday marked one of the last times Biden is expected to sign major legislation as president, since Congress is now controlled by Republicans and his […]
Trumps election as president certified by Congress, four years after Capitol attack
By: Ashley Murray, Ariana Figueroa and Jennifer Shutt - January 6, 2025
WASHINGTON Lawmakers certified President-elect Donald Trumps win Monday in a smooth process that four years ago was disrupted by a violent mob of Trump supporters bent on stopping Congress from formally declaring President Joe Bidens 2020 victory. Vice President Kamala Harris the 2024 Democratic presidential nominee defeated by Trump presided over the […]
Louisianas Mike Johnson elected U.S. House speaker by GOP in cliff-hanger vote
By: Jennifer Shutt, Ariana Figueroa and Shauneen Miranda - January 3, 2025
WASHINGTON U.S. House Republicans on Friday elected Louisiana Rep. Mike Johnson as their speaker for the 119th Congress, following weeks of speculation about whether the GOP would begin another protracted, public dispute over leadership. The drama-filled vote ensured that Johnson, who was first elected speaker in October 2023, will hold the gavel as Republicans […]